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Tuesday, 24 March 2009

Always Take The Weather With You... Everywhere You Go

I find, in life that there are songs and music that 'sing' to us... That call our name, and some even give us shivers when we hear them, touching as they do some raw part of ourselves...

A fragment, a whisper carried on the wind, a good memory, a reflex...

Weather With You, from Crowded House, "a rock group formed in Sydney, Australia and led by New Zealand musician and singer-songwriter Neil Finn", has been rolling around my head for the past few days, like the veritable ear-worm that it is... It and a title from another of the band's better-known songs, Four Seasons In One Day - For the weather has been just like that here lately...spring and all!

Skip this paragraph if you're not really interested in the incarnation of the band (Info. care of La Wiki), which achieved big successes from the mid-Eighties to the mid-Nineties...

"Though the band owes its original success to the Australian live music scene, references to New Zealand people and places in songs pay homage to their roots ("Kare Kare" is written about Karekare Beach, "Mean to Me" refers to Finn's hometown of Te Awamutu). The success of the group's third album Woodface and the general success of Crowded House and Split Enz prompted the Queen in June 1993 to bestow the Order of the British Empire on both Tim and Neil Finn for their contribution to the music of New Zealand".

I hadn't realised that, for I didn't know much about these musicians, I just enjoyed so much of their song-writing and easy-listening pop/rock music in the radio and in the car during those years...

For me, Weather With You, conjures up feelings of nostalgia, of childhood...

Dredging, as we do, peculiar memories from our subconscious from time to time, triggered by smells or sounds. We are drawn back into a time when we were mainly safe... In our family home, with its familiar trinkets and jew-jaws, and we wondered what our future might bring, as we toy with the idea of becoming adult, grown-up...

Here are the lyrics:

Walking 'round the room singingStormy WeatherAt 57 Mount Pleasant Street.Now it's the same room but everything's differentYou can fight the sleep but not the dream

There's a small boat made of chinaThat's going nowhere on the mantlepieceDo I lie like a Lounge Room LizardOr do I sing like a bird released

CHORUSEverywhere you go you always take the weather with you

Written By N. Finn & T. Finn

But for me, this song isn't just about looking backwards, it's about looking to the future, and deciding for ourselves where our paths shall take us... These are two thoughts that I often trot out to others, snippets, morceau d'avis... Take them or leave them, mes dahlinks, I shall not be hurt if you do not... Know yourself, above all, my bloggy treasures. You know that, and don't need me to tell you anything.

Be realistic in your expectations: Many people believe they can make themselves happy through the love of another person. Don't expect others to be responsible for your happiness. You are the only person accountable for creating your own happiness.

Take charge of your feelings: Notice how powerful it is to work towards your own happiness, and be mindful of your actions and feelings. Do not waste your energies being a victim. Take charge of your destiny, and focus on practical ways through your problems.

The Truth According to Lady Wiki - so you don't have to read it - Ssshhhhh! I won't tell if you don't...: "As the central songwriter for the band, Neil Finn's music has always been the driving force for the band's song catalogue. Finn has often cited artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and folk rock artists such as John Denver and Joan Baez. Finn has said that his mother has always been a huge musical influence to him, encouraging him from a young age to listen to a variety of different musical styles, including Irish folk singers and Maori music. Maori influences can be heard particularly in Together Alone and also in the Finn Brothers release Finn.

Finn often writes lyrics in sonnet form with rhymes, similes and metaphors combined with literal descriptions. Some songs he has written have random lines, notably "Pineapple Head" from Together Alone, based on lines murmured by his younger son Elroy when he was sick and delirious with a fever as a young child".

Amen, sister!!!! I agree with your little nuggets of widom shared. Isn't it amazing how a song can swoosh back such memories and mood, just plunking oneself into a familiar time and setting? I didn't get to your previous post, must catch up on it later. Going to get myself beautified...at least my hair, ta-ta!

Take charge of your own feelings... wise words from a wise woman! I had to learn that lesson the hard way, after I allowed someone else to maintain responsibility for my feelings for a long time. It's so much easier to blame others, though, isn't it? But it's so much more rewarding when we do for ourselves :) Lovely post (as always) and I needed to read it today! XO

I remember this song very well, it too brings back memories of childhood. It is indeed amazing how music can take us back.;) I also love the idea how profound some lyrics can be. I am sure the artists that make this music must find great satisfaction in the fact, that they can contribute and enrich other lives, even directly influence them in a positive way.;)

Sometimes when one gets an earworm it can be positively maddening. You find yourself humming or singing the same song endlessly, barely aware that you are doing it. I remember this catchy song - it'll probably stay with me all evening now

Sometimes when one gets an earworm it can be positively maddening. You find yourself humming or singing the same song endlessly, barely aware that you are doing it. I remember this catchy song - it'll probably stay with me all evening now

Spookily I was thinking of this song today too. The two songs merge into one. They go "Every where you go... you always take the weather with you, everywhere you go... Like Four Seasons in one day" - I guess I must have got to know them at the same time and they've become fused in my brain.

I identify with this very strongly:"Do not waste your energies being a victim. Take charge of your destiny, and focus on practical ways through your problems."

I have been a victim and I have taken charge of my inner turmoils by posting about them and by writing poetry about them. I've had some positive comments and encouragement and it's done wonders for me. Hoorah for blogland!

Please forgive me for not responding to you all separately today - as is my wont...

I was just about to complete all my little billets doux to you, when my whole system crashed. NOT NICE...

Hopefully not a portent of other crap about to hit my personal fan today!

I am glad some of you liked Crowded House - I've not especially followed the band, but have always liked their music. I never really had a lot of free money to buy loads of albums back then - Music is much more freely and easily accessible now, is it not...

I did not mean yesterday to sound worthy, or to 'teach my granny to suck eggs' as we say here, I just wanted to impart a few of the thoughts that have buoyed me up over the years, have kept me holding on, sometimes by the veritable skin of me fingertips... I know it isn't easy to make yourself be happy, but sometimes it's all we've got...

Hope you enjoyed it, and my love and light to you all... Salut maintenant! xxx

Stay with me baby!

All about Fhina:

This side of fifty, I'm a mother, wife, orphan, friend, psychotherapist and counsellor in that order... My son, Grizz, is 21 and left the nest last year. My hubby, GJ, is fifty-one going on fiveteen!
I am a rat-wrangler in training, as mad as a ship's cat and one of life's random ramblers...
Join me, there's never a dull moment. I'm Fhina, by the way!